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It’s certainly reasonable to view two shootings in St. Cloud the past week as reminders about the importance of personal safety in this fast-growing metro area.

It’s unreasonable, though, to cite them in trying to portray the St. Cloud metro area as even remotely similar to the likes of Chicago, Detroit and even Minneapolis/St. Paul.

For example, The Chicago Tribune reported as of July 14 there have been 1,254 shooting victims in that city this year, or about five a day. St. Cloud has had three this month.

Not only are those the first since March 29, but suspects have been arrested in all three cases.

“These are not random shootings. They are nefarious shootings,” St. Cloud Police Chief Blair Anderson said Thursday when asked about safety concerns. “Where there are drugs there are usually guns.

“St. Cloud is a microcosm of this nation,” he added. “St. Cloud is a safe city. St. Cloud is a changing city. But St. Cloud is a safe city.”

To that end — and with National Night Out just 11 days away — it’s a good time to review basic steps involving personal safety.

“No matter where you are, be cognizant of what’s going on around you,” Anderson said. “Be aware of the people around you as well as those people around them.”

In addition, make sure you take simple steps to improve your safety and prevent crimes. Lock house and garage doors and ground-level windows. Remember to remove the keys and lock your vehicle after you make sure valuable possessions are not visible inside of it.

One of the best prevention efforts comes Aug. 5 with the 31st annual National Night Out. From 6-10 p.m., neighbors are encouraged to get to connect with each other and public safety officials by spending time outside their residences. Block parties with potluck cookouts are a common event.

Sure, busy schedules these days keep many residents from getting to know their neighbors. But making that connection can be a huge step in making your neighborhood safer. “We used to have neighbors who were nosy in a good way,” Anderson said. “That’s missing now.”

But even getting together for a few hours one night can start building those connections, raise awareness and make an already safe metro area even safer.

Editorial board members

Melinda Vonderahe, President and publisher

John Bodette, Executive editor

Randy Krebs, Opinion page editor

Hannah Kosloski, Sydney Lo, Paige Pawlenty, Sam Rogers, Community

For information on National Night Out or to learn about St. Cloud Police Department’s crime prevention programs, contact Officer John Justin at 345-4182 or email him at john.justin@ci.stcloud.mn.us.